Using carrier oils can be a gentle and effective way to boost skin health and nourish hair dried by chlorine, saltwater or sun exposure. Humidity can have a huge impact on skin and hair health too, so in this blog we are looking at how carrier oils can naturally support healthy skin and hair over the summer months! Carrier oils are natural, plant-based oils that can be used on their own or as a base for Essential Oils. We have also created some amazing ready-to-use Face Oils in our Spa Collection and Hair and Body Treatment Oils which may quickly become your washbag must-have. It is important to note that while these natural remedies can support your wellness during the summer, we always recommend protecting your skin with a broad spectrum SPF when exposed to sunlight as a non-negotiable part of your self-care routine.
Here are some of our favourite tips on how to use carrier oils to care for your skin during the summer…
Choose the right carrier oils and natural skincare ingredients for your needs
Always conduct a patch test before applying any new oil or mixture to your skin to check for sensitivity and to find an oil that suits you. Many carrier oils will have been extracted by cold pressing it from nuts or seeds so do make sure you avoid these if you are allergic.
Coconut Oil: Known for its moisturising properties, coconut oil can help soothe over exposure to sun and hydrate dry skin.
Aloe Vera Gel: Aloe vera is renowned for its soothing and healing properties, making it excellent for treating sunburns and calming irritated skin. On application, Aloe Vera has an instantly cooling effect so is the perfect post-beach skin treatment. A plain aloe vera can have a couple of drops of Essential Oil added to it for extra luxury.
Jojoba Oil: This oil closely resembles the skin’s natural sebum, in terms of its composition, making it an excellent moisturizer that is easily absorbed without leaving a greasy residue.
Grapeseed Oil: Lightweight and non-comedogenic (which mean it won’t clog your pores), grapeseed oil is perfect for those with oily or acne-prone skin. It also has antioxidant properties.
Sweet Almond Oil: Rich in vitamins A and E, sweet almond oil can help soften and smooth the skin, making it great for dryness an d irritation.
- Application Tips
- After Sun Care: After spending time in the sun, apply a cooling aloe vera gel or soothing coconut oil to cool and hydrate the skin.
- Daily Moisturiser: Use a lightweight oil like Jojoba or Grapeseed oil as a daily moisturiser. Apply a few drops to damp skin after showering or shaving to lock in moisture. Castor oil is fabulously thick and nourishing and is great to use as a moisturiser. It has been used throughout history to support healthy hair growth and to boost scalp condition, so is a great oil to use as a conditioning hair mask.
- Mix with Essential Oils: You can enhance the benefits of carrier oils by adding Essential Oils like Lavender (for calming), Tea Tree (for its naturally occurring antibacterial properties), or Chamomile (for soothing irritation). Always dilute Essential Oils correctly before applying to the skin, typically 1-2 drops of Essential Oil per tablespoon of carrier oil or no more than 5% is a good rule to follow.
Home Skin and Haircare Recipes
We love using carrier oils to create our own body care recipes here at Absolute Aromas – one of our favourites is a cooling body mist you can keep in a spray bottle for use at home or out and about. Simply mix distilled water with a few drops of a light carrier oil like Grapeseed oil and a cooling Essential Oil such as Peppermint together and spritz over your body avoiding your eyes. The Essential Oil in this recipe can easily be swapped out – try Citronella to deter bugs, or Lavender to support relaxation on restless hot nights. The Peppermint Essential Oil spray can be a refreshing way to cool down and hydrate your skin at the same time throughout the day. You could also treat yourself to a natural skin scrub – create for conditioning and smoothing skin. Just blend a carrier oil of your choice with a natural exfoliant like sugar, salt or some ground oats to create a gentle scrub. This can help remove dead skin cells and improve skin texture!
Nourish and Hydrate Hair the Natural Way
To help support skin and hair at any time of the year, we have developed ready-to-use Treatment Oils; a rich blend of carrier oils with Essential Oils or CO2 extracts to target and soothe a variety of conditions. Our Absolute Aromas Treatment Oils have been blended by our expert Aromatherapists who have 30 years’ experience. Created to help support healthy hair growth and to stimulate and condition the scalp, our Rosemary Treatment Oil is an incredible way to support healthy skin and hair naturally. It contains pure Rosemary Essential Oil, Plus Castor Oil for incredible moisturisation, Vitamin E to nourish and a blend of some of our favourite other carrier oils. The Rosemary Essential Oil in this blend can also support relaxation by helping to reduce feelings of worry or tension and help you feel natural clarity, as well as aiding concentration. The richly nourishing carrier oils will also deeply moisturise skin and the protective qualities of the Vitamin E are great for boosting skin condition. Used as a treatment on the scalp, it can ease dry skin and flakiness. Simply massage into scalp, roots and lengths, and leave for 20-30 minutes then shampoo and condition as usual. As this is such a nourishing blend, we recommend doing a scalp treatment at least once a week to encourage the growth of healthy hair.
Our second Treatment Oil has Ginger CO2 Extract as its star ingredient. Ginger has been used as a tonic root for thousands of years – used topically in Eastern therapies such as massage to sooth muscles, aid digestion and boost skin nourishment. Its familiar warmth can be soothing, while the punchy freshness from the CO2 Extract is also uplifting and stimulating. Try massaging the oil into scalp to combat dry, flaky skin – massage to boost circulation and leave on scalp as a treatment for 20-30 minutes. Use as a self-massage oil anywhere else on the body too – great to rub into tired muscles either by yourself or ask a loved on to help! This oil has been developed so it’s slippy enough to massage with but it will absorb into your skin swiftly so won’t leave you feeling oily.
The uses of carrier oils really are unlimited – they each have their own benefits and active ingredients, so you’ll be sure to find one to suit your needs. Some oils need to gently warmed before use to liquify them, (such as Tamanu or Neem) but most are ready to blend or use alone. The addition of Essential Oils can elevate their therapeutic benefits and we hope you have enjoyed a few of our favourite tips and blending recipes in this week’s blog.
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